Tuesday 15 May 2012

VACANCY: PhD projects on the psychology of weight loss in obesity and anorexia nervosa

The Department of Clinical Psychological Science of Maastricht University offers two PhD positions for research on obesity and weight loss.

Specifications - (explanation)
Location Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER  Maastricht
Function typesPhD positions
Scientific fieldsBehaviour and Society
Hours 38.0 - 40.0 hours per week
Salary € 2042 - € 2612
EducationUniversity Graduate
Job number AT2012.80
Translations
Apply for this job within 12 days

Job description

Project 1 studies determinants of successful weight loss in obesity and anorexia nervosa and is funded by theNetherlandsorganization for Scientific Research (NWO). Project 2 concerns the development of an automated E-coach for weight loss, and is funded by technology foundation STW and Philips.
Each PhD student will participate inMaastricht's Eating Research Group, join the Dutch-Flemish post-graduate school for Experimental Psychopathology (EPP) and follow courses in the localGraduateSchoolof the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.
Project 1: The aim of this project is to study why some people are extremely successful in losing weight (long-term) whereas others are not. Similarities and differences between anorexia nervosa and obesity/successful weight losers will be studied. This project is part of a larger NWO-VICI project awarded to Prof. Dr. A. Jansen, in which 3 PhD students and a Postdoc will study psychological maintaining mechanisms of overeating in obesity, ways to reduce the overeating, and predictors of successful dieting.
Project 2:The aim of the project is the development of an automated E-coach for weight loss, which will be based on principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The research is part of a larger project in the Healthy Lifestyle Solutions call from STW and Philips. There will be a close collaboration with a PhD-student and postdoc at the Department of Knowledge Engineering (DKE) ofMaastrichtUniversity, who will focus on the technical and artificial intelligence aspects of the E-coach.

Requirements

Requirements: We are looking for PhD-students with a completed master in clinical, social or cognitive psychology. The successful candidate has been trained in experimental research and statistical methods, likes to do basic laboratory experiments, has skills to do clinical interviews (project 1), and likes to be part of the development of a technical device (project 2). Candidates have excellent communication and writing skills in Dutch and English. Because both positions involve fieldwork, a candidate must master the Dutch language. Candidates may reflect on both positions, but can of course also choose.

Conditions of employment

Intended starting date is September 2012 for project 1 and January 2013 for project 2.
Contract type: Temporary, 48 months

Organisation

http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/
Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 14,500 students and 3,800 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

Additional information

For more information you can contact: For project descriptions of both projects: AFM.Verweij@maastrichtuniversity.nl (tel. 043 - 3881972). Additional information project 1: prof dr. A. Jansen: A.Jansen@maastrichtuniversity.nl. Additional information project 2: dr. A. Roefs: A.Roefs@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Attachment

Project VICI PhD3 Jansen.pdf
ProposalRoefs.pdf

Original here: http://www.academictransfer.com/employer/UM/vacancy/14055/lang/en/

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